Today, blockbusters are generating hype and controversy for far less significant moments of representation than the interracial on-screen kiss that sparked KKK protests in 1957. But in 2017, it takes more — on and off screen — to truly push boundaries.

It’s far from a sure thing that Dev Patel’s Oscar nomination — or the fact that the internet is obsessed with his hair — will translate into more of the big roles Hollywood still reserves for a certain kind (and color) of man.

The Edge of Seventeen actor Hayden Szeto told BuzzFeed News about the significance of playing an Asian-American man who gets the girl — and how he challenged stereotypes with his approach to the role. MILD SPOILERS!